I'm not that sentimental about when I made a quilt. If the quilt lasts long enough for someone's future great grands to have it, the date given would be olden days enough for them by then.

When my sister's friend was told her cancer had returned, I wanted to give her a cuddly quilt. We had celebrated Xmas together for a few years, and I was so sad for her to have to travel that journey. I went through my quilt collection and chose one with her colours and a flannel backing, label was on from completion.... I added a hand embroidered label above that one, that read: Quilted Hugs from (our names) Gifted to (name) on (date) She loved that quilt, and said it was extra special that I would part with it. [ATTACH=CONFIG]606066[/ATTACH]

Thank you e4. The reason we label our quilts is for the history. How many times have you wondered who made an unlabeled quilt. What part of the country did it come from? Etc. etc. Please do not remove old labels. E4's comment was "right on"---including what to say when "gifting" a quilt.

I had some friends over recently and invited them to each choose a quilt to take home. Some of the quilts were "new" and some were "old", but I don't think it made any difference. (Hate to say this, but most of them didn't even have labels.)

I always let a recipient look over a stack of quilts and choose what they like. Time of completion doesn't matter. They know I make extra. So whether it's old or new, it's appreciated.

This, exactly.

Totally agree

This is a wise and gracious way to part with quilts you no longer want. If a person wants one of your quilts, it’d be because you made it, and they like it, not based on when you made it.

I agree —do not remove labels. Add if you want, but a quilt made in a certain era and labeled in that era should match. I woujd rather take a quilt in 2019 made by my aunt in the 1970s and see the label with, say, 1974, than 2019. The fabrics would match the era.

The wording suggested by themadpatter gives anyone an “out” who simply has no desire for a quilt. For some people, quilts are just not “them.” No shame in that. I wouldn’t want to feel guilted into taking something I didn’t value, but if I wanted something made by someone I care about, the year made would be irrelevant. The maker matters.

Don’t relabel them, just add a note explaining that you held onto them until the right person that it belonged to, showed up. It would make it seem even more special. Would you recut a diamond because it was not new? No you would not, quilts are the “diamonds” that we leave for others when we were gone. I would just point out how long it took to find “the real owner”. It is still your quilting history.

Themadpatter is right.

I like themadpatter's idea of inviting people to choose a quilt from your supply if they would like one. It is better than guessing who might like which one.